Canberra cat containment could be extended city-wide

Canberrans may be banned from ever letting their pet cats outside if a recommendation for a 24-hour city-wide cat containment is adopted.

A new report from a senior ACT Government environmental planner and a scholar from the Australian National University's (ANU) Fenner School of Environment has recommended cat containment be expanded across Canberra.

Currently, keeping cats either indoors or in secure outdoor enclosures is mandatory in all new suburbs.

While the Government is considering the recommendation to expand cat containment it said it could be some time before a decision was made.

The Government has also hinted at a significant transition period to allow cat owners and their pets to adapt.

"I think if we were to go down that path there would need to be a long lead-in time," Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said.

Most of our suburbs are within 500 metres of nature which is a really wonderful thing to have but it also means cats will roam.

Kathy Eyles, from the ANU's Fenner School of Environment

"We'd have to work with the community make sure people can get ready."

The RSPCA ACT said cat owners would need extra education.

"It can be more challenging for the owner than the cat because you have to do things to keep the animal stimulated," RSPCA ACT head Tammy ven Dange said.

Ms ven Dange said containment was becoming the norm for many new cat owners, especially in apartments.

Many cat-lovers choose to buy or build an outdoor run for their felines or keep them indoors with plenty of toys for amusement.

"Containment is already being done by a lot of people," Ms ven Dange said.

"But it will be a challenge for people who are used to roaming."

Cat containment to protect Canberra's local wildlife

The background paper being considered by the Government looks at the danger cats pose to vulnerable species, particularly those that live in nature reserves around Canberra's suburban fringes.

"Cats can roam quite a significant distance and they predate on small animals like frogs and birds," Conservation Council ACT director Clare Henderson said.

The council together with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service are ramping up education in existing cat containment suburbs.

They are planning to letterbox 10,000 Canberra homes about cat ownership rules in new suburbs.

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